Print head latching mechanism

ABSTRACT

The disclosure embodies a latching mechanism to properly position and secure a print head or the like on a shaft and to facilitate the removal and replacement of the print head. The mechanism comprises a plurality of resilient armlike members fixedly mounted on the insertable end of the shaft, said resilient armlike members are angularly displaced inwardly against bias during insertion and return to their normal outwardly biased position when the print head is properly seated on the shaft, and a plunger which is inserted to prevent angular inward displacement of the resilient armlike members.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Harry L. Wallace Garden City, Mich.;Bruno Parysek, Livonia, Mich. [21] Appl. No. 817,718 [22] Filed Apr. 21,1969 {45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee Burroughs CorporationDetroit, Mich. a corporation of Michigan [54] PRINT HEAD LATCHINGMECHANISM 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 101/375, 101/328,64/11,29/453 [51] Int.Cl ..B41l'l3/10,F16d3/28 [50] FieldofSearch 101/375,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,279 6/1952 Osgood101/375 2,693,146 11/1954 Mason et al. 101/375 3,065,004 11/1962 Laich29/525 3,340,804 9/1967 Price 101/375 Primary ExaminerWilliam B. PennAssistant Examiner-E. M. Coven AttorneysEdwin W. Uren and Paul W. FishPATENTED JAN28 |97| FIGJ.

INVENTORS. HARRY L. WALLACE. BY BRUNO PARYSEK.

PRINT HEAD LATCHING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past,print heads were secured on rotatable shafts by various means. Thevarious means ranged from pressure fittings to retainer pins. The onething in common with all of these various securing means was the fdifficulty incurred in removing the printed head. The difficultyconsisted in the necessity of tools to accomplish removal, the handlingof separate retaining parts and the soiling of the operator's hands inremoving the print head itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved latching mechanism that is effective tofacilitate positioning, securing and removing a print head or the likein relation to a shaft imparting rotational movement to said print head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism thatallows the positioning and removal of the print head or the like withoutthe necessity of tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanismwhich will render the rotational shaft inoperative when the print headis improperly positioned.

An important aspect of the invention is the use of a resilient member onthe insertable end of the shaft. The resilient member terminates in aplurality of armlike extensions which are displaced against bias duringinsertion and return to their normal outwardly biased position when theprint head is properly seated on the shaft.

Another aspect of the invention is the insertion of a movable plungerbetween the armlike extensions when they have returned to their normaloutwardly biased position after insertion into the print head. Theplunger prevents the armlike extensions from being displaced and thuskeeps the print head in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects, aspects and advantages ofthe invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a bank check endorsing assemblywherein the endorser head is latched to the rota tional shaft by thelatching mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -5 of FIG. 4 showing theendorser head seated and latched on the rotational shaft;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotational shaft insertable into theendorser head;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing thetop of the endorser head;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing therotational shaft during insertion;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing the rotationalshaft prior to its insertion into the endorser head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 there isshown a partial isometric view of a bank check endorsing apparatuswherein checks are transported along a horizontal selected path oftravel in a check transport guideway 11 to a point of endorsement 13. Atthe point of endorsement, transportable motion is terminated and theendorsing procedure commences. Rotatable motion is imparted to theendorser head 15 through a vertical rotatable shaft 17 driven by anelectrically powered motor 19.

With the check at the point of endorsement l3, rotational motion in acounterclockwise direction is imparted to the endorser head 15 by themotor 19. The endorser head is inked by means of a printing element 21on the endorser head being brought into a contiguous relation with anink transfer ap;

paratus 23 by virtue of the imparted rotational motion. The endorserhead 15 continues its rotational motion until the printing element ofthe endorser head has completed an endorsing impression on the check tobe endorsed. The check, having been endorsed, has transportable motionimparted to it to transport it through the remainder of the checktransport guideway 11 to the check stacking bin 25. For a more detaileddescription of the check endorsing apparatus reference may be had to thepending application Ser. No. 835,145 of Harry L. Wallace, filed Jun. 20.1969 for Endorsing Apparatus assigned to the same assignee as thepresent application.

For the motor 19 to be operable, the cover 27 of the check endorsingassembly must be in a closed position to allow the magnetic portion 29of the interlock located on the cover to effect the reed switch portion31 of the interlock located on the housing of the assembly and thuscomplete the electrical circuit to the motor 19.

The endorser head 15 is provided with a bore 33 into which the rotatableshaft 17 is slidably inserted as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The bodyof the rotatable shaft is keyed to the bore 33 in the endorser head 15to prevent slippage during rotational movement. The key means employedin the present embodiment is a flat 35 on the shaft 17, however, anyother means may be used for keying the shaft to the endorser head. Alimit ring 37 is circumferentially affixed to the shaft 17 providing anexternal flange to limit downward slidable axial travel of the endorserhead 15.

A resilient member 39 made of plastic, rubber, nylon or any othersuitable resilient material is securely mounted on the insertable end ofthe rotatable shaft 17 by any suitable fastening device. The mountingmeans employed in the present embodiment is a nylon screw 41.

The resilient member 39 is composed of a base 43 which abuts theinsertable end of the shaft and a plurality of resilient armlikeextensions 45 and 47 extending upwardly from the base 43. The presentembodiment shows two resilient armlike extensions 45 and 47. The factthat only two extensions are illustrated in the present embodiment isnot intended to limit the number of extensions to two, as three or moreextensions may be used depending on the size of the bore 33 in theendorser head 15. The resilient extensions 45 and 47 terminate inrespective camlike enlargements 49 and 51. In the present embodiment,the camlike enlargements 49 and 51 are cylindrically shaped; however,spherical or other camlike surfaces may be employed.

The bore 33 formed in the endorser head 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 6)preferably has two chamfered shoulders or surfaces 53 and 55 and anexpanded volume portion 57 of the bore 33. The first chamfered surface53 is located on the bottom of the endorser head 15 to facilitateslidable mounting of the endorser head 15 onto the shaft 17. The secondchamfered surface 55 is located at the base of the expanded volumeportion 57 of the bore 33 to permit the seating of the camlikeenlargements 49 and 51 of the resilient extensions 45 and 47respectively. The distance between the chamfered surfaces 53 and 55 isequal to the distance on the rotatable shaft 17 from the limit ring 37to the camlike enlargements 49 and 51. This predetermined distance isutilized to properly seat the en dorser head 15 on the rotatable shaft17.

Outwardly disposed at the top of the endorser head 15 is a plungerholder 59 affixed to the endorser head of the present embodiment by ascrew 61. Seated in the plunger holder 59 is a movable retractableplunger 63 in axial alignment with the shaft 17. The plunger 63 is madeof nylon or any other suitable durable material and has a diametersubstantially equal to the distance between the two camlike enlargements49 and 51 when they are seated in the first chamfered surface 53. Thediameter of the plunger 63 is large enough, however, to prevent inwardangular displacement of the resilient armlike extensions 45 and 47. Alimit ring 65 is preferably circumferentially affixed to the lowerportion of the plunger 63 to define an upward (as shown) limit to axialtravel of the plunger 63 and to prevent removal of the plunger 63 fromthe plunger holder 59. The other limit of axial travel of the plunger 63is defined by an oversized limit ring 67 integrally formed with theplunger 63. Instead of being an integral part of the plunger 63, theoversized limit ring 67 may be affixed to the plunger by any otherwell-known means. The shape of the oversized limit ring 67 affordsitself to be easily grasped by the operator when removing the endorserhead and when positioning the plunger 63 between the camlike aenlargements 49 and 51.

Referring to FIG. 6, prior to insertion of the rotatable shaft 17 intothe bore 33 of the endorser head 15, the resilient annlike extensions 45and 47 on the rotatable shaft 17 are in their normal positions in whichthe arms 45, 47 are contiguous and their outer surfaces coincident withthe periphery of the shaft 17. Upon being inserted, the resilientarmlike extensions 45 and 47 are angularly displaced inwardly againstbias by the camming action of the external portion of the camlikeenlargements 49 and 51 and the first chamfered surface 53. Referring nowto FIG. 5, the resilient armlike extensions 45 and 47 remain angularlydisplaced inwardly during insertion until the camlike enlargements 49and 51 reach the expanded volume portion 57 of the bore 33 proximate thesecond chamfered surface 55.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the camlike enlargements 49 and 51 havingreached the second chamfered surface 55, the resilient armlikeextensions 45 and 47 return to their normal outwardly biased positionand the camlike enlargements 49 and 51 seat themselves against thesecond chamfered surface 55 in the expanded volume portion 57 of thebore 33 thereby releasably latching the endorser head 15 to the shaft17. Further axial travel in the insertable direction is prevented by thelimit ring 37.

The plunger 63 is adapted to be positioned between the inside surfacesof the camlike enlargements 49 and 51 by lowering the plunger 63 thefull extent of travel as defined by the oversized limit ring 67. Withthe plunger 63 positioned between the inside surfaces of the camlikeenlargements 49 and 51, the endorser head cannot be removed because theplunger 63 prevents angular, inward displacement of the resilientarmlike extensions 45 and 47 thereby retaining the camlike enlargements49 and 5.1 respectively in the expanded volume portion 57 of the bore33.

The plunger 63 will not enter into engagement with thecamlike'enlargernents 49 and 51 unless they are fully seated against thesecond chamfered surface 55 and the resilient armlike extensions 45 and47 are in their normal outwardly biased position. Unless the plunger 63is fully positioned between the camlike enlargements 49 and 51, thecover 27 will not close and the two portions 29 and 31 of the interlockwill not interact to complete the circuit to the motor 19. This featureensures that the endorser head is properly seated before operation canbegin.

Removal of the endorser head is accomplished by grasping the oversizedlimit ring 67 and raising the plunger 63 the full extend of travel asdefined by the limit ring 65. The endorser head 15 is then slidablyraised off the rotatable shaft 17 by the continued pulling up of theoversized limit ring 67 and thereby causing the resilient armlikeextensions 45 and 47 to be angularly displaced inwardly by the cammingaction of the second chamfered surface 55 and the camlike enlargements49 and 51 respectively. The resilient armlike extensions 45 and 47remain angularly displaced inwardly until the endorser head 15 iscompletely removed off of the rotatable shaft 17 and then they return totheir normal outwardly biased position.

lt will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may by-madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention which is described with particularity in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a document endorsing device, an upright driven shaft having anannular flarcige on a lower portion thereof, a type carrying rotatablehea having a bore therethrough receiving an upper end portion of saidshaft and seating on said annular flange, means coupling said head tosaid shaft for rotation therewith, said bore having a portion ofenlarged diameter above the upper end of said shaft when said shaft isfully received in said bore, an annular chamfered shoulder at thejunction of said bore and the enlarged diameter portion thereof, a pairof oppositely disposed detents yieldably mounted on the upper end ofsaid shaft and biased laterally of said shaft into engagement with saidannular chamfered shoulder to oppose relative axial movement of saidhead on said shaft, and a retractable stop member, movably mounted on aportion of said endorsing device normally positioned between andopposing movement of said detents away from said annular shoulder.

2. The mechanism of an endorsing device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid means coupling said head to said shaft for rotation therewithcomprises: an extended flatted portion formed on said shaft between saidannular flange and said pair of oppositely disposed detents, and anextended flatted portion formed in said bore exclusive of said enlargeddiameter portion, said flatted portions of said shaft and said boreengageably cooperating as said bore of said head receives said upper endportion of said shaft.

3. The mechanism of an endorsing device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid retractable stop member is a plunger movably mounted in saidenlarged diameter portion of said bore of said type carrying rotatablehead, said plunger being depressibly activatable to assume said normalposition between and opposing movement of said detents away from saidannular chamfered shoulder.

4. The mechanism of an endorsing device as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid plunger is operatively responsive to the closing of a lid portionof the endorsing device to effectuate said opposing movement of saiddetents away from said annular chamfered shoulder.

1. In a document endorsing device, an upright driven shaft having anannular flange on a lower portion thereof, a type carrying rotatablehead having a bore therethrough receiving an upper end portion of saidshaft and seating on said annular flange, means coupling said head tosaid shaft for rotation therewith, said bore having a portion ofenlarged diameter above the upper end of said shaft when said shaft isfully received in said bore, an annular chamfered shoulder at thejunction of said bore and the enlarged diameter portion thereof, a pairof oppositely disposed detents yieldably mounted on the upper end ofsaid shaft and biased laterally of said shaft into engagement with saidannular chamfered shoulder to oppose relative axial movement of saidhead on said shaft, and a retractable stop member, movably mounted on aportion of said endorsing device normally positioned between andopposing movement of said detents away from said annular shoulder. 2.The mechanism of an endorsing device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans coupling said head to said shaft for rotation therewith comprises:an extended flatted portion formed on said shaft between said annularflange and said pair of oppositely disposed detents, and an extendedflatted portion formed in said bore exclusive of said enlarged diameterportion, said flatted portions of said shaft and said bore engageablycooperating as said bore of said head receives said upper end portion ofsaid shaft.
 3. The mechanism of an endorsing device as defined in claim1 wherein said retractable stop member is a plunger movably mounted insaid enlarged diameter portion of said bore of said type carryingrotatable head, said plunger being depressibly activatable to assumesaid normal position between and opposing movement of said detents awayfrom said annular chamfered shoulder.
 4. The mechanism of an endorsingdevice as defined in claim 3 wherein said plunger is operativelyresponsive to the closing of a lid portion of the endorsing device toeffectuate said opposing movement of said detents away from said annularchamfered shoulder.